Rivals (Sequel To Pitcher)

Glances

"Woah," I said as he backed away as far as I was concerned he had never kissed me first. He had never kissed me like that, with such meaning.

"I'm sorry I should not have done that! That was awful of me!" 

"No, no, don't worry. It's perfectly fine..." I felt as though I had fallen into a trance. A trance that there was no escape from, the trance of Aaron Nola. 

"I...I don't know...what happened to me. It was not my place...my apologies...I shouldn't have." 

"We should get to the game." 

"Yeah, right the game...that...that's important." 

"Yeah...are you sure you're alright?" 

"Yeah. I'm fine." 

I shrugged and began to walk in the direction of the field. Aaron did not follow directly after I left.    I didn't hear the muffled sound of his footsteps until I had reached the end of the hallway. I was getting to the main part of the stadium. This was not a matter for me to fully understand whatever it was that had just happened mere minutes ago. My lips could still feel the touch of Aaron Nola's lips against mine faintly. It felt as though the world had taken a sudden, abrupt turn. I was uncertain of how I was supposed to feel. Was I to love him and keep it only to myself? Or love him and keep it between the two of us? 

After what felt like forever I finally reached the locker room. There was a strange silence that had overcome the room. There was no laughing or chatting, just silence. Sometimes silence is beautiful like when you are sitting in your living room with all of your favorite people. But silence can be hideous as well, like when the love of your life stops talking to you. 

This silence was neither. While it was certainly not beautiful, it was still far from hideous. The air was simply heavy with the anticipation of an event that could either end horribly or wonderfully.  Everything felt heavy, the air, my head, my heart. 

Aaron stepped in from behind me the same uncomfortable expression still plastered on his face. Lucky for us not many of our teammates had arrived yet and there were only a few others beside us two. Which added to the discomfort that had now befallen us. Silently walking to our lockers I quickly grabbed my headphones and my phone. Country songs began to fill my head. Country love songs. 

Eventually, Cameron got here smiling brightly and quickly retrieving Aaron. They went to the field to begin getting prepared. I remained seated, my heart somehow still beating rapidly from earlier. Aaron didn't so much as give a glance in my direction maybe he was afraid to. 

"Abby!" Odubel's cheerful voice drew my attention in his direction.

"You're here at last!" I got up immediately and greeted him smiling felicitously. 

"So how are you on this splendid October morning?" 

"Tired. How about you?" 

"I'm no different than you. I spent the night with the most beautiful woman I have perhaps ever seen. Oh, Abby, you should have seen her she was gorgeous." 

"I'm quite sure she was Odubel,  you deserve to find yourself a girl. Afterall that you have done for me and the success you have had. Whatever girl gets you is by far one of the luckiest women in the world." 

"Woah, what's got on your mind Abs? I have never heard you compliment someone who's last name isn't Nola quite like that." 

"Oh nothing, just excited about the game that's all." 

"You sure?" 

"Odubel Herrera, look at me, I am 100% certain that I am simply happy about the game today and nothing else. There? Now, are you convinced?" 

"Si, mi amour." He chuckled as he started to get ready for practice. 

"Anyways are you starting the game today?" 

"I believe so." 

"Well damn Odubel good luck! Although I have a strong doubt that you'll need any of that." 

"Whatever that Nola boy did to you last night, I am just glad it has put you in such a good mood." 

"That Nola boy...right." I murmured it more to myself than Odubel so he didn't know the truth of who I was talking to.

"Hey Abs, you wanna come out and stretch with me or not?"  Odubel's voice brought me back to reality for what had to be the second time that day. I had not even realized that I was standing in the hallway just thinking. 

"Yeah of course!" 

"You good?" 

"Good? Man, I am perfect! Never been better!" 

"If you say so." 

Hence Odubel and I continued, stretching alongside one another. He rambled on about the girl he had met the night before. I just smiled and nodded, pretending to listen when in truth all I could hear was Nola. Nola. Nola. Nola. Oh, how on earth had I fallen so in love with that one man? 

I pretended to be watching the various stretches Odubel was displaying that he believed would help him run even faster when all I saw was Nola. Nola. Nola.Nola. When I had first met Aaron Nola I had no idea what I was in for. To me, he was just another pitcher, a possible friend, and rival. Now he has become so much more than that. 

I allowed myself occasional glances in Aaron's direction. Just to check on his pitching and nothing else I told myself. But it was clear that I had so much more than pitching in mind when I stared at him from across the field. I tried to be discreet about it. Telling Odubel to go on the line when we played catch so that Aaron would be in my direct line of vision. Stretching near the bullpen saying that I needed to stretch to keep my muscles from tightening up too much. This was true. Well somewhat, I had been told to wait a day before throwing a lot after pitching...oops. 

Aaron moved to many locations as practice moved on and so did I. I made sure to keep a close eye on him but not too close. One of the times that I was looking at him Aaron caught me mid-stare and I could feel my face heating up from the moment our eyes met. But he was blushing too, causing me to giggle into my mitt. 

During batting practice I didn't even watch the batters, I watched the pitcher, Aaron Nola.  I told Odubel I would watch him hit but that was a lie, my eye didn't leave Aaron the entire time. Cameron sat beside me in the dugout while everyone hit batting practice. He tried and failed to get me to hold a conversation with him. Luckily no one really noticed my odd behavior entirely. Everyone was in an odd mood with the game coming up. 

Aaron avoided me and I suppose you could say I avoided him as well. I didn't try to talk to him, I just looked at him, a lot.